Farm Bill Frustrations: Industry leaders and lawmakers are calling for a new five-year legislation

Farmers and ranchers are growing impatient waiting for a five-year Farm Bill.

The Idaho Farm Bureau says this year has been especially frustrating.

“We can’t control the weather. We can’t control Congress as hard as we try. We got a Farm Bill that’s two years overdue. We’re operating on such an outdated Farm Bill alone, all the way across the board. And every time it feels like you make a little progress, or you feel like we’re going to get something, the contention kicks in and it just becomes too political,” Bryan Searle, president of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.

Kansas Representative Tracey Mann recently spoke on the House floor, urging colleagues to act. He said he wants to see more focus on disease prevention in agriculture.

“It is past time for Congress to pass a fiscally conservative five-year farm bill, including support for agriculture research and development. We’ve seen the devastating impact disease outbreaks can have with the HPAI virus, and now we must take steps to prevent the New World Screwworm from reaching our borders,” said Rep. Tracey Mann.

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson hopes to have a new Farm Bill out of committee by this Fall.

Related Stories
Leadership development and bipartisan engagement remain central to advancing agriculture’s priorities in 2026.
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.
Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-IA, details how the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) supports farmers, biofuels, and rural communities with tax breaks, crop insurance relief, and ag infrastructure.
While the 2018 Farm Bill received an extension under the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act, the National Pork Producers Council wants lawmakers to do more to support the sector.
Row crop losses in 2025 are outpacing last year. With no disaster aid yet approved, many operations face a tough financial bridge to 2026 even as Farm Bill improvements remain a year away.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

University of Arkansas’ Allen Szalanski discusses a news study on rice stink bugs, what it could mean for farmers, and pest management strategies for the future.
Wed, 3/18/26 – 7:30 PM ET – Build better financial habits with tips from AARP
Valley Irrigation’s Darren Siekman explains the advantages of their new pivots for growers managing acreages of up to 60 acres.
ASFMRA’s George Baird shares insight on spring planting progress, acreage trends, and the financial factors influencing Mid-South farmers this season.
Jeramy Stephens with National Land Realty explains how the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling and ongoing ‘America First’ trade policy raise new questions about U.S. farmland values and agricultural market stability.